The Good, the Bad, and the Really, Really Ugly

This past couple of weeks have been wrought with stress, anxiety, oddities, and a series of comically unfortunate events; as well as fun, excitement, and lots of laughs.

And I'm sorry, but this is kind of a rambling of all my thoughts.

A few weekends ago, I was able to go to the wedding of a good friend! It was very exciting! Who knew a couple of years ago while we were in Mali that two of us would be getting married within a few months of each other! It was a beautiful ceremony focused on Christ and the union of two people within Christ. I greatly enjoyed seeing my friend walk his mom to her seat of honor as the mother-of-the-groom and seeing his little brothers (who have gotten SO BIG since the last time I saw them!) help by handing out programs! It was a blast going to his wedding reception. The couple did a first dance together that ended with a pre-rehearsed dance routine to a Michael Jackson song. It was hilarious. It was nice to be able to join together in fellowship and have fun and laugh in celebration of two people becoming one in a covenant with God.

Now, Lets go to Thursday and Friday two weeks ago: extreme tantrums from a five year old. I have never seen such tantrums thrown in my life. It's exhausting for all parties involved, but it's amazing how long this child can scream and cry. You think the 5 year old would get too tired, but the little one has resilience! As the little 5 year old keeps throwing these blow out tantrums, it reminds me of how early sin enters our lives and how it effects our actions and the people around us. We may not all be throwing extreme tantrums (or at least I hope that to be a true statement) but each day we fall short of God's perfect plan for us. And when His plans are different from our plans, we sometimes get upset (because obviously, we know best-but not really); but each time we diverge from God's plan, He pushes us back to His path, so that He may be glorified and so that we may have a full, well-lived experience. God always wants what is best for us; it's why He has given us so much instruction in so many different areas and It's quite amazing how often in our lives we act like toddlers or children when we don't get our way or we are upset by something. Sometimes, we tattle on people, even as adults (believe me, I've experienced it); sometimes, we just pout and mope about. It is all for nothing, though! Because, we know we can't change things on our own, but need Christ to lead us in triumphal procession! When Christ is first in our lives, we can grow from immaturity, to spiritual fullness in He who saves us! It's really rather exciting.

Next, lets look at that following weekend: we went to Iowa for our normal weekend adventure to my fiance's job as a part-time worship leader at a church. Practice went fine, but then came Sunday morning. There were some tasty looking cookies set out, so I grabbed a couple. On the first cookie I bit of a little bit, the other half broke off and fell on the floor, then I dropped my next cookie on the floor. I was thirsty and flustered from my cookie so I grabbed a water bottle and took off towards Sunday school. As I walked there with my fiance, I noticed my hand and arm was getting water on it and I haven't even opened my bottle up yet! I found the culprit: I grabbed the ONLY lemon water bottle- it had a tiny hole in the bottom that was letting water leak out. My solution: I held my water bottle upside down when I wasn't drinking it-I know, really fancy. Then, come second service, when we got on stage to lead worship music, the first song went well and then a church elder did announcements. As the elder did his announcements, he placed his bible and papers on my music stand and after a prayer, he took all his papers AND my music-not only that, but since he'd already been to one service, he took off with my music and left church. Thankfully, my wonderful (and handsome) fiance didn't need his music because he was just playing the Cajon, so it worked out alright!
On a bright side of that Sunday, my fiance, Seth, and I started our premarital counseling! Yay! We found out (or had confirmed) that we have similar views of most things and that there are a few areas where we differ-namely, stress and organization. I stress out very easily and Seth is my rock. I am slightly neurotic about organization and Seth is my lovely artist brain; He has an organized mess on his desk in his dorm room. To make that day go even better, the weather was BEAUTIFUL for Nebraska: a wonderful 54 degrees and sunny! So obviously, we went to the zoo. One of our favorite pass times (especially mine-I once visited the zoo 6 times in one week).
The following week was full of business and singing. The musical! Grace University had its 5 annual musical. This year, it was Guys and Dolls. Seth is in it as Sky Masterson. He's done a great job! It's so fun to see people do something their so passionate about such as performing! I miss being in the musical with Seth, but love to watch him, though I am a little jealous that he has to stage kiss someone that is NOT me, but I like the girl playing opposite him, so it's alright, I guess. I've got his real love, so no worries! :) Also, to give everyone an enjoyable sneak peak, here's a video of some of the guys playing in the show doing a remix/mashup of the musical songs.

Lately, I've been very much desiring to get into community theater and maybe even use theater as a ministry. I would love to get my Masters in Intercultural Studies (since I already have my bachelors in it!) or a Masters in Theater Ministry (how awesome is it, that theater ministry is an actual masters degree?!). I have a great passion for ministry, especially outside of the church! That's why I got a degree in Intercultural Studies. Culture is fascinating and beautiful! And I know that God can use it to minister His truth through us! There are so many things that I would LOVE to do as ministry to the world. I would love to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of lost, broken, sick, and hurting people around the world. That's really where my passion lies. And there are so many places I can do it! I thought that the place I would be is medical school so that I could do medical missions; now, I'm not so sure. I think it would be interesting, but my passion wants something more creative and artsy. I love music, I love performing, and I love creativity. I think those are great places that we can use to minister to others. I know God has a plan for me and for Seth to minister for Him wherever we are. I guess I'll find out soon enough! I am greatly looking forward to marrying Seth in a very short 51 days!

Inspired Initiation

Since the 5th grade, I have been a devoted to journaling in my own personal journal. I have recently taken to reading blogs of friends such as Whitney, at greenishbrownishblue.blogspot.com, or Kendra, sipnstyle.blogspot.com. I have always delighted in the written word and these two wonderful women have inspired me to take that delight and put it into a constructive outlet. And with the beginning of a new year, I thought it would be a great time to start.

The past year has been filled with milestones and change. I graduated college. I spent my summer living away from home as a summer missionary. I went to a state university (which is vastly different from the small Christian university I graduated from).

My car broke...again.

I got engaged.

I started planning my wedding. I got my WEDDING DRESS! I moved out of my own for the first time. I experienced loss; my great-aunt, a wonderful woman of God, passed away doing what she loved: teaching children about God's wonderful truths.

Just a week ago, I started a new job. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to be the new daycare director of Sonbeam Day Care. I am so excited about this job! I love kids. I enjoy organizing, planning, etc. And most importantly, I am excited that I can have a part in teaching kids about the truth of Jesus and make sure they are forming a spiritual life, even at such a young and impressionable age.

It is so refreshing to work with kids daily. They have such an amazing ability to just believe and have blind, doubtless faith. They put their trust and faith in us as caretakers and they put their faith and trust in our wonderful, Heavenly Father.As I continue to work with kids, it allows me to understand what Jesus meant when He said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3). When we follow Christ with unyielding faith, like children, we are following our Lord the way He desires us to follow Him. I am refreshed daily with this thought as I see small children following with true, unyielding faith.

Sometimes, it's hard for me to remember, but Christ is our source of faith, love, hope, joy, and life. God is the one who has plans for our life, so much better than our own. Sometimes this is so hard for me! I am such a planned, especially now-I plan everything at work and I'm planning my wedding! I am wired to plan and organize everything. It helps me feel more in control, I think. But, I was recently reading the story of Sarah and Abraham; I read about Sarah's doubt in the truth that God would provide a child for she and Abraham (in God's perfect timing). Sarah took matters into her own hands and gave her maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham and a son was born. Sarah got exactly what she'd wanted, but she regretted it. Hagar hated Sarah once she had become pregnant. Sarah's pride had taken ahold of her; she thought her own actions just fine and doubted that God's plans were better. When she let her own pride go before her faith in God, her results were negative. Eventually God still provided a son through Sarah to Abraham and followed through on His promises despite Sarah and Abraham's inadequacy and lack of faith or obedience at times. God does this for each of us each day as well; we are inadequate and imperfect but God, who is perfect in everyway, continuously provides for ourn eeds and answers our prayers and desires when we come before His throne, humbled, broken, and fully devoted to following Him. Sometimes, God answers us in unexpected ways, but all the same, His will is perfect. Thsi is my daily goal and my daily prayer, that I follow God and rely on His grace, mercy, and perfection to keepy me in His loving embrace.

Here is a wonderful verse to keep in mind:

"Trust in the Lord, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will  make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6